Male sport and multipurpose active wear undergarment

ABSTRACT

A male personal comfort sport and multipurpose underwear/undergarment that includes, as an integral part thereof, a specially configured penis and genital pouch secured to the interior of the undergarment that includes a frontal elastic opening for receiving and comfortably securing a male penis, and coincident slit-like opening on the opposite side of the pouch to allow the penis to be easily and comfortably removed through the front panel of the undergarment. The undergarment significantly reduces the possibility of crushing or otherwise injuring the penis and/or genitalia during any sudden movement of the wearer, such as vigorous exercise occurring during sports activities. The pouch also serves to isolate the genitalia from the thigh area, so that in humid conditions or conditions in which the wearer is perspiring due to physical activity, the penis and genitalia skin do not touch the wearer&#39;s thigh region. Alternatively, the inside portions of the pouch can be lined with a water-impermeable material if the undergarment is intended for use by male individuals who may be incontinent or otherwise incapable of controlling the bodily discharge of urine, particularly during aggressive physical activities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to active wear garments for males, andmore particularly to undergarments tailored and fitted to support andprotect the male genitalia during, for example, vigorous physicalactivities such as sporting events. In the past, undergarments foraccommodating male genitalia have been designed to satisfy variousobjectives such as improved sanitation, comfort and support. Generally,such undergarments are designed to isolate the entire genitalia from thebody of the user by incorporating a separate fabric layer that preventsthe genitalia from touching the legs. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.3,621,846; 4,345,337; 4,414,971; 4,660,551; 5,029,345; 5,070,869; and5,283,912.

A popular and well-known style of men's underwear consists of a snugfitting garment that normally comprises woven cotton woven formingstretchable, band-like sections for circling and resiliently engagingwaist and upper leg portions of a wearer's lower torso. Typically, theyprovide a pocket-shaped section adapted to snugly engage the wearer'sgenitals forwardly of the crotch and hold them against the body. Thepocket or bulge-shaped garment section usually includes a pair ofabutting, selectively separable, panel sections that cooperate toprovide a front-opening fly that affords manual access to the wearer'spenis.

Another well-known commercialized style of men's undergarments soldunder the trademark Jockey® include shorts formed of woven, cotton-likematerial and constructed to provide an elastic waistband for the garmentand stretchable or elastic bands or other body-encircling parts securedto lower edge portions that surround the leg openings. Other similarknown male undergarments assist in shaping, forming, and lifting themale genitalia. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,093 issued to Tsuchiyadiscloses an undergarment that includes an insert provided to shape theformation of the swell at the front of the garment. U.S. Pat. No.5,237,706 issued to Nalbandian similarly discloses a male garment with ascrotal pouch designed to enable the user to displace the male genitaliafrom the normal position below the truck of the body to a more prominentposition.

Only a relatively few known undergarment configurations provide thecomfort, support and genital protection necessary during vigorousphysical activity or even when the wearer bends at the waist such aswhen entering and exiting a motor vehicle. Nor do the current designsfully satisfy the needs of men suffering from medical ailments such askidney, bowel, bladder or prostrate disorders.

Accordingly, a need remains for a male garment that is comfortable andeasy to wear and yet will provide improved protection during active use,particularly sports activities. The present invention thus provides anew and improved form of construction of a man's underwear garment withdistinct advantages over the prior art constructions described above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new male personal comfort sport andmultipurpose underwear/undergarment that includes, as an integral partthereof, a specially configured penis and genital pouch secured to theinterior of the undergarment. The integral pouch includes a frontalelastic opening for receiving and comfortably securing a male penis whenthe undergarment is worn, as well as a coincident slit-like opening onthe opposite side of the pouch to allow the penis to be easily andcomfortably removed through the front of the undergarment. Theunderwear/undergarment according to the invention also provides astructure that allows the male scrotum to remain outside the integralpouch for increased comfort and to allow the genitals to remain at alower temperature when the undergarment is being worn, particularlyduring vigorous physical activity.

The personal comfort sport and multipurpose underwear/undergarmentaccording to the present invention significantly reduces the possibilityof crushing or otherwise injuring the penis and/or genitalia during anysudden movement of the wearer. The integral pouch also serves to isolatethe genitalia from the thigh area during normal use. Thus, in humidconditions or conditions in which the wearer is perspiring due tophysical activity, the penis and scrotum do not touch the wearer's thighregion which often causes discomfort with known prior art undergarments,including conventional products designed to protect against impact tothe genitalia. The present invention also protects and secures the penisand scrotum in a more comfortable manner than prior art undergarmentdesigns when the user is sitting or engaging in bending movements of themiddle torso. An alternative embodiment of the invention has additionalbenefits for males who may be incontinent or who suffer from othermedical ailments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of a first embodiment of thepersonal comfort sport and multipurpose undergarment in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the undergarment of FIG. 1 depicted inmanner to illustrate the undergarment structure turned inside out;

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevation view of the undergarment depicted inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevation view of the undergarment depicted inFIG. 2 turned inside out;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the undergarment depicted inFIG. 2, again turned inside out;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the undergarment of FIG. 1 takenalong the line 6-6 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 7 is a frontal perspective view of a second embodiment of themultipurpose undergarment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the undergarment of FIG. 7 depicted inmanner to illustrate the undergarment turned inside out;

FIG. 9 is a partial front elevation view of the undergarment depicted inFIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a partial front elevation view of the undergarment depictedin FIG. 2 turned inside out; and

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the undergarment of FIG. 7 takenalong the line 11-11 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As noted above, the undergarment for securing male genitalia (penis andscrotum) according to the present invention includes a speciallyconfigured pouch secured (typically by stitching) to an interior portionof the underwear/undergarment. Nominally, the pouch forms an enclosurewith front and rear openings for the penis as described above and isgenerally trapezoidal in configuration. In order to ensure maximumcomfort and temperature compatibility for the user, the pouch consistsof a soft cloth-like material that allows air to circulate into andthrough the pouch. As an alternative, the pouch can be lined on theinside with a water-impermeable material (such as thin Latex®) if theundergarment is intended for use by male individuals who may beincontinent or otherwise incapable of controlling the bodily dischargeof urine, particularly during aggressive physical activities such assports. In either embodiment, the longer, bottom edge of the pouch andcorresponding shorter top edge nominally are secured via stitching tothe lower and upper interior portions of the undergarment as describedbelow to substantially enclose the penis during normal use whileallowing for the genitals (scrotum) to be positioned outside the pouch.

In one exemplary embodiment, the bottom edge of the pouch extendssubstantially across the entire lower portion of the undergarmentdefining the juncture between the two undergarment leg openings. In likemanner, the top section of the pouch comprising the smaller of the twoends of a trapezoidal configuration can be secured to the top part ofthe undergarment, typically the interior of the top elastic band. Thefrontal elastic opening for receiving the male penis as described abovenormally will be positioned a few inches above the lower pouchhorizontal seam. The slit-like opening on the opposite side of the pouchallows the penis to be removed through the front of the pouch andnominally is positioned a few inches above the top of the elasticopening.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the substantiallytrapezoidal pouch can be formed by securing the lower and upper edgeportions of the undergarment in the manner described above. However,unlike the first embodiment, the pouch is formed by securing the twolongitudinal side edges to the front portion of the undergarment itself,thereby making the pouch an integral part of the front panel andeliminating the need for a separate slit opening in the pouch. Thisalterative embodiment includes an elastic opening for the penis on oneside thereof as described above, as well as a longitudinal slit on theopposite side that also serves as the front opening in the undergarmentitself.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the malepersonal comfort sport and multipurpose underwear/undergarment accordingto the invention is shown generally at 10. The undergarment includesfront leg portions 11 and 12 with corresponding leg openings 18 a and 18b and is shown with a conventional front opening 13 or “fly” secured bystitching to the front panel as shown at 15. A front longitudinal slitopening for the undergarment is shown at 14 and is generally coincidentwith a longitudinal opening in the front of the specially configuredpouch.

In one embodiment, the top edge of the pouch can be secured to theinterior of the undergarment via the elastic waste band (shown generallyat 19) and the bottom edge can be secured along the bottom portion 16 ofthe undergarment as shown at 17. Thus, in this embodiment, the pouchextends the entire distance between the top edge at the elastic wasteband 19 to the lower undergarment pouch seam at 17. However, the pouchcould be formed at other positions along the top and bottom sections ofthe undergarment, depending on the size and body type of the wearer.

In FIGS. 2 and 5, the undergarment has been turned inside out in orderto better illustrate the general configuration and features of the pouchas secured to the inside panels of the undergarment. Once secured intoposition, the pouch forms a substantially trapezoidal enclosure for thepenis and genitals as described above. The enclosure is defined by thetop and bottom ends stitched to the undergarment along the lines at 22and 23, respectively, with the longer, longitudinal pouch edges shown at24 and 25. The stitched bottom edge 23 of the pouch extendssubstantially across the entire lower portion of the undergarment thatdefines the juncture between the two leg openings 18 a and 18 b. In likemanner, the top section of the stitched pouch at 22, i.e., the smallerof the two ends of the substantially trapezoidal configuration, issecured to the top part of the undergarment along the lower edge ofelastic band 19. The frontal elastic opening for receiving the malepenis is shown at 21 and is substantially circular in configuration andpositioned only a short distance above the lower pouch seam as shown.The slit-like opening 26 on the opposite side of the pouch allows thepenis to be removed through the front the pouch, with the slit nominallypositioned slightly above the top of the elastic opening 21. FIG. 5 alsoshows the relative location of the opening 14 in the front panel of theundergarment itself (see also FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevation view of the undergarment 10 depictedin FIG. 1 while FIG. 4 is a similar partial elevation with theundergarment shown turned inside out for purposes of illustrating theconfiguration and relative position of the pouch attached to andintegral with the front portion. The pouch is attached generally asshown at 20 and thus coincident with front flap 31 covering the openingsin both the pouch and undergarment, with the edge of the front flapshown at 32. FIG. 4 likewise illustrates the relative position oflongitudinal edges 24 and 25. The pouch is shown secured to theundergarment along the bottom edge (seam 23) and along at the top atedge (seam 22) along the lower edge of elastic band 19. FIG. 4 alsoshows the generally circular elastic opening for pouch 21 and therelative position of longitudinal slit 26 on the opposite side of thepouch.

The cross sectional view shown in FIG. 6 is taken along line 6-6 inFIGS. 3 and 4 and shows the genital pouch according to the invention asnominally attached to and made and integral part of undergarment 10. Asnoted above, the pouch comprises front and back portions or panels,shown as 20 a and 20 b, respectively, in FIG. 6 with the top and bottomends of the pouch being secured to undergarment 10 along the lines at 22and 23, respectively, to form a substantially trapezoidal shape and asecure enclosure for the penis. The shorter, top end of the pouch can besecured as shown to the top of elastic band at 19 a, or alternatively tothe bottom edge of the elastic band as described above along a line at19 b. The frontal elastic opening for receiving the male penis is shownat 21 with the slit-like opening 26 on the opposite side of pouch 20positioned slightly above the top of the elastic opening 21. FIG. 6 alsoshows the relative location of the opening 14 in the front panel 13.

The pouch depicted in FIG. 6 can be formed from any soft cloth-likefabric that allows air to circulate into and through the pouch.Alternatively, the entire inside portions of the pouch, including frontand back portions 20 a and 20 b, can be lined with a water-impermeablematerial if the undergarment is intended for use by male individuals whomay be incontinent or who otherwise are incapable of controlling thebodily discharge of urine, particularly during aggressive physicalactivities such as sports.

FIG. 7 shows is a frontal perspective view of a second, alternativeembodiment of the multipurpose undergarment in accordance with theinvention. In this embodiment, the undergarment shown generally at 70again includes front leg portions 71 and 72 with corresponding legopenings 78 a and 78 b and includes a conventional front opening (fly)73 secured by stitching to the front panel as shown at 75. A frontlongitudinal slit opening for the specially configured pouch secured tothe inside of the undergarment is shown at 74 and, in this embodiment,forms the longitudinal opening for the front panel of the undergarmentitself. In that respect, the pouch is formed by using the front panel ofthe undergarment to form the genital enclosure. See also FIG. 11.

Not unlike the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the top edge of the pouchas shown in FIG. 7 can be secured to the interior of the undergarmentalong the elastic waste band (shown generally at 79). The bottom edgecan likewise be secured along the bottom portion 76 of the undergarmentas shown along line 77. Thus, the substantially trapezoidal pouchextends for the entire distance between the top edge at the elasticwaste band 79 to the lower undergarment pouch seam at 77. Again,however, it could be formed at other positions along the top and bottomsections of the undergarment, depending on the size and body type of thewearer.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of theundergarment in FIG. 7 depicted to illustrate the undergarment turnedinside out. After being secured into position, the pouch forms asubstantially trapezoidal enclosure for the penis and genitals asdescribed above and defined by the top and bottom ends stitched to theundergarment along the lines at 82 and 83, respectively, with thelonger, longitudinal pouch edges shown at 84 and 85. The bottom edge 83of the pouch extends substantially across the entire lower portion ofthe undergarment 70 defining the juncture between the two leg openings78 a and 78 b.

In like manner, the top edge of the pouch at 82, i.e., the smaller ofthe two ends of the substantially trapezoidal configuration, is securedto the top part of the undergarment along the lower of edge of elasticband 79. The frontal elastic opening for receiving the male penis isshown at 81, substantially circular in configuration and positioned onlya short distance above the lower pouch seam 83 as shown. In thisembodiment, the slit-like opening 86 on the pouch is positioned on thesame side as the elastic opening 81 and thus different from the positiondepicted in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 6. As in the earlierembodiment, however, longitudinal opening 86 allows the penis to beremoved through the front the pouch and is positioned slightly above thetop of the elastic opening 81.

FIG. 8 also illustrates how the pouch in this particular embodimentutilizes the front portion of the undergarment itself to form thecompleted enclosure. Thus, in that respect, the pouch is completelyintegral with and part of the front panel of undergarment 70.

FIG. 9 is a partial front elevation view of undergarment 70 as depictedin FIG. 7; FIG. 10 is a similar partial elevation, but with theundergarment shown turned inside out for purposes of illustrating theconfiguration and relative position of the pouch as attached to theundergarment front panel. Again, the pouch will be positioned generallyas shown at 70 and thus coincident with the front fly portion 91 havinga front flap to cover the opening in both the pouch and undergarment,with the edge of the front flap shown at 92. FIG. 9 likewise illustratesthe relative position of the pouch with longitudinal edges 84 and 85.The pouch is shown secured to the undergarment along the bottom edge(seam) 83 and along at the top edge (seam 82) of elastic band 79. FIG.10 also shows the generally circular elastic opening for pouch 81 andthe relative position of longitudinal slit 86 in the pouch.

The cross sectional view shown in FIG. 11 is taken along line 11-11 inFIGS. 9 and 10 and shows the pouch according to the invention asnominally attached to and made part of undergarment 70. As noted above,the pouch comprises front and back portions 20 a and 20 b, respectively,with the top and bottom ends of the pouch being secured to undergarment70 along the lines at 82 and 83, respectively to form a substantiallytrapezoidal shape and a secure enclosure for the penis. The shorter, topend of the pouch can be secured as shown to the top of elastic band 79.The frontal elastic opening for receiving the male penis is shown at 81with the slit-like opening 86 on the opposite side of the pouchpositioned slightly above the top of elastic opening 81. FIG. 11 alsoshows the relative location of the opening 84 in the front panel 83 ofthe undergarment.

The pouch depicted in FIG. 11 can be formed from any soft cloth-likefabric that allows air to circulate into and through the pouch.Alternatively, the entire inside portions of the pouch, including frontand back panels 80 a and 80 b, can be lined with a water-impermeablematerial if the undergarment is intended for use by male individuals whomay be incontinent or otherwise incapable of controlling the bodilydischarge of urine, particularly during aggressive physical activitiessuch as sports.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

1. A male undergarment comprising, a front fabric portion sufficient insize to cover male genitalia and having an opening therein sufficient toallow for displacement of male genitalia outside said undergarment; arear fabric portion secured along two opposing edges corresponding tothe edges of said front fabric portion and configured to define a pairof leg openings in said undergarment at the lower end thereof and asingle large trunk opening at the top of said undergarment; and anintegral fabric pouch specially configured to enclose and protect saidgenitalia, said pouch being disposed inside said undergarment andsecured at the top thereof to said front fabric portion and at thebottom to said rear fabric portion, said integral fabric pouch includingat least one elastic opening in the front sized for receiving a malepenis when the undergarment is being worn and a second openingsufficient in size to allow the penis to be removed through said frontfabric portion.
 2. The male undergarment according to claim 1, whereinthe configuration of said integral fabric pouch is trapezoidal.
 3. Themale undergarment according to claim 1, wherein the bottom edge of saidintegral fabric pouch extends substantially across the entire lowerportion of said undergarment between said leg openings.
 4. The maleundergarment according to claim 1, wherein said second opening in saidfabric pouch comprises a slit-like configuration disposed substantiallyon the opposite side of said first opening.
 5. The male undergarmentaccording to claim 1, further comprising a water impermeable linermaterial secured to inside surface portions of said integral fabricpouch.
 6. The male undergarment according to claim 1, wherein saidintegral fabric pouch is sized to allow the penis to be positionedinside said fabric pouch and genitalia to be positioned outside saidpouch during normal use.
 7. The male undergarment according to claim 1,wherein said integral fabric pouch is formed by securing twolongitudinal edges directly to said front portion of said undergarment.